Wire gauge for remote charging plugs

BobUnkefer · 08-21-2010, 10:57 AM

I want to relocate the exterior charging plugs on my car and I know that the wire that currently runs from the plugs to the battery is too small, so I ask, what size SHOULD it be?

Looking at approximatly a 4 ft run from the rear bumper to the trunk mounted battery. All the battery cables are welding cable, but does/should the wiring from the remote charging plugs to the battery be the same size?

Trying to get ready for debut @ the Topeka LODRS next weekend, so any & all help is certainly appreciated.

Unk

Mack Reeves · 08-21-2010, 12:52 PM

I have always sized the charging wire to fit the highest setting on my battery charger.. That way you get the full advantage of the charger and don't overheat the wire... JMO.... Mack

magnumv8 · 08-21-2010, 01:08 PM

Bob.....the gauge of the wire for your charging lugs depends on the input current you plan to supply to the on board battery.....most of the smaller chargers run as small as a 14 ga. wire cause they can only supply maybe a max of a 15 amp charge....but...if your battery is dead enough that you plan to do a "jump start" through these lugs then you better have a cable heavy enough to take the extra current....seeing how you only need 4' of cable you could get away with using a 2 ga. and it would handle most anything you want to do there including a 750 amp "jump"...but if you are weight concious and can jump directly on your on board battery you can go a lot smaller if you want.....

D L Rambo.....

Run to Rund · 08-21-2010, 02:46 PM

"Too heavy" a gauge just gives you a couple pounds of "ballast" so you might as well get heavy enough wire to do anything from those ports. I'd get something like 0 gauge, although the charger won't need that much. If you use them to jump start as noted above, you will be glad you used heavy gauge wire. You can easily get terminals compatible with the gauge of wire and the diameter of the post the terminal bolts to.

BobUnkefer · 08-21-2010, 08:17 PM

PM came that said with electricity you can't be too big.... So I made them out of 2/0 welding cable. 40 amp charger seems to kick in a whole lot better now.

Unk

rallye bob · 08-23-2010, 03:46 PM

You did good Bob.......... ;-)

08-21-2010, 10:57 AM	#1
BobUnkefer Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 465 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Wire gauge for remote charging plugs I want to relocate the exterior charging plugs on my car and I know that the wire that currently runs from the plugs to the battery is too small, so I ask, what size SHOULD it be? Looking at approximatly a 4 ft run from the rear bumper to the trunk mounted battery. All the battery cables are welding cable, but does/should the wiring from the remote charging plugs to the battery be the same size? Trying to get ready for debut @ the Topeka LODRS next weekend, so any & all help is certainly appreciated. Unk __________________ Bob Unkefer 4409 STK

08-21-2010, 12:52 PM	#2
Mack Reeves Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Elkin, NC Posts: 671 Likes: 169 Liked 44 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Wire gauge for remote charging plugs I have always sized the charging wire to fit the highest setting on my battery charger.. That way you get the full advantage of the charger and don't overheat the wire... JMO.... Mack __________________ Mack Reeves 2377 STOCK & SUPER STOCK

08-21-2010, 01:08 PM	#3
magnumv8 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Coraopolis, Pa. Posts: 172 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wire gauge for remote charging plugs Bob.....the gauge of the wire for your charging lugs depends on the input current you plan to supply to the on board battery.....most of the smaller chargers run as small as a 14 ga. wire cause they can only supply maybe a max of a 15 amp charge....but...if your battery is dead enough that you plan to do a "jump start" through these lugs then you better have a cable heavy enough to take the extra current....seeing how you only need 4' of cable you could get away with using a 2 ga. and it would handle most anything you want to do there including a 750 amp "jump"...but if you are weight concious and can jump directly on your on board battery you can go a lot smaller if you want..... D L Rambo.....

08-21-2010, 02:46 PM	#4
Run to Rund Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 583 Likes: 8 Liked 54 Times in 27 Posts	Re: Wire gauge for remote charging plugs "Too heavy" a gauge just gives you a couple pounds of "ballast" so you might as well get heavy enough wire to do anything from those ports. I'd get something like 0 gauge, although the charger won't need that much. If you use them to jump start as noted above, you will be glad you used heavy gauge wire. You can easily get terminals compatible with the gauge of wire and the diameter of the post the terminal bolts to.

08-21-2010, 08:17 PM	#5
BobUnkefer Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 465 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Wire gauge for remote charging plugs PM came that said with electricity you can't be too big.... So I made them out of 2/0 welding cable. 40 amp charger seems to kick in a whole lot better now. Unk __________________ Bob Unkefer 4409 STK

08-23-2010, 03:46 PM	#6
rallye bob Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Genoa, Illinois Posts: 489 Likes: 9 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Wire gauge for remote charging plugs You did good Bob.......... ;-)